Light Bulb Lab Report

Procedure:
Write a paragraph explaining the procedure for this lab, including a description of all materials
used.
To conduct this lab, two batteries, alligator clips, a switch, light bulbs, and a multimeter
were used to set up the circuits in the lab. In the first part of the lab, a series circuit was
made with one light bulb connected to it. Then, a series circuit with two, then three, then
with two bulbs and two batteries, and then finally a series circuit with a four-band resistor
was made. In each experiment, the effects of adding bulbs and adding an extra battery
were observed relating to the efficiency of the light bulbs. Additionally, the voltage drops
throughout the circuit were observed using the multimeter with the voltage settings. In the
second part of the lab, parallel circuits were made and observed for their voltage drops,
and their impact on the brightness of the bulbs. First, a parallel circuit with two bulbs was
made, then with three, then with six, and then finally with a four-band resistor attached to
it.
Results:
Write a paragraph giving the results of the lab.
For the first experiment of the lab, the single bulb series circuit had a voltage drop of 2.58V,
with a total of 3.47V. In the two bulb series circuit, the circuit experienced a voltage drop of
approximately 2.18V across each bulb, with a total of 3.82V. In the three bulb series circuit,
the voltage drop was 1.96V, 1.75V, and 1.59V with a total 4.23V. Finally, the four bulb series
circuit had a voltage drop of approximately 1.49V across each bulb, with a total of 4.51V. as
more bulbs, and when the four-band resistor was added to the circuit, the brightness of the
bulbs decreased. The four-band resistor series circuit had 0.05 Amperes, causing no light to
be displayed in the two light bulbs. of current In the second experiment of the lab, the two
bulb parallel circuit had a voltage drop of 2.72V, with a total of 3.28V. The three bulb
parallel circuit had a voltage drop of 4.05V, with a total of 1.95V per branch. The six bulb
parallel circuit had a voltage drop of 5.18V, with a total of 0.82V per branch. The
brightness for the parallel circuits was maintained and did not deteriorate, except for the
six bulb circuit, which was significantly dimmer. The four-band resistor parallel circuit had
0.05 Amperes, causing no light to be displayed in the two light bulbs.
Questions:
1)​ Fully explain why the lights got dimmer as you added more bulbs in series.
When one adds more bulbs to a series circuit, it increases the amount of resistors in
the circuit. It also increases the length of the wire, creating a greater resistance
system since the length of the system directly affects the resistance. Therefore, due
to the increase of resistance, there will be less current flow to the light bulbs, and
 thus a dimmer bulb. This principle is also described in Ohm’s law, which states that
V=IxR, illustrating the inverse relationship between current and resistance.
2)​ Fully explain how to set up your apparatus to measure the current in the circuit.
To measure the current in the circuit with the apparatus, the multimeter had to be
set to the lowest value of current on the dial, and then the probes of the red and
black wires that are attached to the multimeter are touched to the wire parts of the
circuit to get a reading in that area of the circuit.
3)​ What were your measured values of voltages in your series experiment? Did you confirm
Kirchoff’s loop law?
During the one bulb trial of the series experiments, the voltage drop was 2.58V, with
a total of 3.47V. In the two bulb trial, the circuit experienced a voltage drop of
approximately 2.18V across each bulb, with a total of 3.82V. In the three bulb trial,
the voltage drop was 1.96V, 1.75V, and 1.59V with a total 4.23V. Finally, the four
bulb trial had a voltage drop of approximately 1.49V across each bulb, with a total
of 4.51V. Therefore, the recorded voltages of the circuit did confirm Kirchoff’s loop
law because the values were close to zero considering the potential for many
experimental errors. Kirchoff’s loop law states that the sum of the voltage drops
subtracted from the total voltage should be equal to zero. For the one bulb trial, the
difference between the voltage values was 0.89. For the two bulb trial, the difference
between the voltage values was -0.13. For the three bulb trial, the difference between
the voltage values was -1.07. Finally, the four bulb trial had a difference of -1.45.
4)​ Why is it important to put a switch into your circuit?
Having a switch in a circuit is important because the switch opens and closes the
circuit, thus only allowing current to flow when the switch is activated. Therefore, it
prevents the deterioration of the lights and of the battery by stopping the constant
flow of electricity.
5)​ What effect did putting the four-band resistor into the circuit have?
When the four-band resistor was put into the circuit, the value of current decreased
significantly because the resistance in the circuit was greatly increased. In turn, it
also resulted in a voltage drom. When the current was measured with the four-band
resistor incorporated in the circuit, the current read as close to zero on the
multimeter.